Occupy D.C. Protesters Standing Their Ground Despite Notices To Move

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJZ)—Occupy D.C. protesters defied a deadline that said as of noon Monday they could no longer camp or sleep at McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C.

Monique Griego has more on the deadline that came and went.

The majority of protesters did not move their stuff out. Now everyone is waiting to see if and when police will move in.

The atmosphere grew tense in McPherson Square as hundreds of Occupy protesters defied a noon deadline to remove all camping gear from their two colonies in the nation’s capital.

“Apparently it’s perfectly legal to sleep in the city except for an encampment against the status quo,” said an Occupy D.C. protester.

Instead of moving their tents out, protesters put up a giant tent over General McPherson’s statue.

After complaints of trash and rats, on Friday the National Park Service put up notices, saying at noon Monday U.S Park Police would begin enforcing new regulations to ban all camping and sleeping at McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza.

Anyone in violation could be arrested and have their camping gear confiscated.

“If they come to arrest me for camping they can take me to jail. I’ll be out the next day and right back here and they can arrest me again,” one protester said.

Witnesses say one protester was so upset he went tent to tent tearing down notices.

Video posted on YouTube showed what happened next. The man was hauled off by police.

But on Monday, besides an early morning sweep by U.S Park Police, not much has been done to move the protesters out.

Some protesters did pack up their belongings for fear they would be taken by police. But the majority are standing their ground.

Occupy D.C. first set up camp on Oct. 1. Many have no plans to leave their post.